First Frost

"Autumn begins with a subtle change in the light, with skies a deeper blue, and nights that become suddenly clear and chilled. The season comes full with the first frost, the disappearance of migrant birds, and the harvesting of the season's last crops."- Glenn Wolff and Jerry Dennis

Saturday dawned with fog hovering in the valley.  

The flowers were blooming

 and it was a wonderful day.

Sunday dawned like this...my car

the Brussel sprouts...

and the beans....

which were still producing. 

The tomatoes, basil and peppers look okay so I might continue to harvest small amounts from them until I finally get out there to clean out the garden.

The man and I had some errands to run, one stop was to the cider mill.  Years ago we had hauled our own apples up here to have them pressed but they don't allow that any more.  You are still allowed to purchase unpasteurized cider from apples they bought.  #1 daughter had requested some homemade apple cider but I don't have enough apples to warrant pulling out our small press so I went to get her the next best thing.  The quilt hanging proclaims the virtues of cider and who am I to disagree. 

I would like at least that many more years.  We stood and watched the press

and the scraps getting dumped

and then I bought eight gallons so we can can some for her to take home. 

Back out on the roads my knitting was ignored while I admired the scenery.  

Then we stopped to see #1 son.  He was at the house A is having built.  He had some more trees to cut down.   It is a big house, the front...

and the back...

glad I don't have their heating bill!  Can't wait to see the finished product and neither can they.  They hope to move in next April or May.

Then it was home to cook up a pot of chili for dinner.  Afterwards I rested as today I have a list a mile long.

I bought some big pumpkins for $3 each!!  I have pumpkin butter on cooking now.  Then I have to can the cider, make some hot pepper mustard or cowboy candied jalapenos to use up the rest of the peppers.  When that's all done and cleaned up I have to make an early dinner because #2 son has a home football game tonight. 

Of course it has dawned on me if I didn't buy the cider or pumpkins my work load would have been significantly smaller...I must have been high on autumn!

October

"Then summer fades and passes and October comes. We'll smell smoke then,

and feel an unexpected sharpness, a thrill of nervousness, swift elation, a
sense of sadness and departure."- Thomas Wolfe

While out last night I smelled someones wood smoke for the first time this season.  Today's high  is only going to be in the 50's so I am sure they will keep it going.  So far I have abstained from using my heat as it is still comfortable in here with the canning/cooking/baking, but the comfy-ness of a fire sounds wonderful.

There is so much clean up still to do in the garden.  The green beans are still producing.  I grabbed some basil this morning and plan to make basil ice cubes for winter's use.  I also filled a basket with hot peppers.  I have cherry tomato plants which are still in blossom.   I have thought about covering them and seeing how far they will go.  They are in a raised bed out of the main area so won't hinder my clean up.  The blackberry canes need to be cut down...and the list goes on.

The weatherman said we had snow on October 15th last year.  That sent me into a tizzy wondering if I was ready for it this year.  I hate to drive in the snow and avoid it as much as possible so I want to be well stocked so I don't have to go out.  Doing a quick check, I will need more sugar, flour and onions.  The screens have to come down and windows washed.  Those darn ladybugs haven't had their last hurrah yet so I have left the screens on.  Farmwise...The turkeys will be leaving on the 17th, the pigs will be leaving soon after that. The sheep will need more hay but I have a reliable source so I am not too worried about that.  The chicken coop should be cleaned out once more.  The firewood is split, stacked and covered but the chimney didn't get cleaned in the Spring so still needs to be done.  Little nephew has been collecting pine cones for me to use as fire starters so I am good there.

That is the minimum that has to be done.  I would say we are 80% ready but the 20% side somehow grows when you add one more pass of the lawnmower, raking leaves, making sure all the summer tools are cleaned up/put away, get the snowblower ready, double check the vehicles......

If I think too much about it I will go nuts so it is best to just keep busy and attack the list piece by piece and hope for the best.  Guess I will start by cooking the chicken for tonights Spicy Chicken Soup....and then laundry...and vacuuming...and cleaning the fridge...dishes...

A time flew by round up

If I could have a sneak preview to all the earthly reasons

It takes to make the theme of time then I'd be a girl for all seasons

And I wouldn't have to worry I wouldn't have to worry oh no no no

It just seems kind of funny that there's some things I'll just never
Know
Like where does the time go? Does anyone know?
Where does the time go? Does anyone know?
Where does the time go? Does anyone know?
We were only just saying just the other day
How it's really amazing how the days just seem to slip away
And it's right before my very own eyes

Oh there's some things that we'll never, we'll never know, like

Where does the time go? ~ Fordham Julia - Where Does the Time Go Lyrics

I am as clueless to it's departure as she is...but a quick round up of the past week would go like this....

9/21 woke to this...

A little chilly.  I stayed warm knitting and baking.

9/22 Fall starts and the temperature goes up.  A little back-assward for sure

9/23 Made Rhubarb/Pineapple Jam, took some things up to my cousins shop.  She has dreamed of opening up a shop to sell her alpaca fiber/products from and finally took the leap.  She has her product and also has crafts made by local people.  There is jewlery, quilting, photography...

pottery

and stained glass

9/24 Cleaned/got room ready for Sir T & #1 to arrive.  Canned beef stew so some mornings I can be lazy and instead of making him lunch I can just hand him a jar.  Went with a friend to a farmer's market, Sam's Club, AC Moore and dinner.  We didn't get home until 10 PM.

9/25 Took wheel up to cousin's grand opening.  She had stayed there until 3 AM setting up and was so nervous/excited.  It was a beautiful day and I sat outside in the shade of a tree spinning with two alpaca and plenty of inquisitive people for company.  Left at 1 with just enough time to put two roasts and all the fixings into the oven for dinner and then it was taking #2 daughter to a friends birthday party.  Upon returning from that I was amazed at the amount of wood the man got stacked told him to call it a day.  Then it was time for dinner with all my kids and their significant others.  It was a very enjoyable day.

9/26 After breakfast we all went to the garden and dug up the rest of the potatoes and a cocoon.  All I could think of was Silence of the Lambs.

We picked the squash, the rest of the tomatoes and carried it all in for storage.  #1 and Sir T left and we went to my nephews football game and then his birthday party.  Came home exhausted.  Sat down and rented Robin Hood

9/27 Was one of those days where I should have just sat in a corner.  On Saturday, I had received some apples from a friend.  They left them sitting on the back porch and I left them there....but then the chickens found them....and then the hornets found them.

Since everyone was at work/school I decided to make some apple cinnamon bread.  I forgot to put the baking soda in and the chickens ended up with two loaves.  Since I still had a significant amount of apples left I decided to make apple pie filling and can it.  I washed the jars, made the filling, took the jars out of the hot water, filled them, put them back into the hot water batch.  I wash up the dishes I used and turn around and the lid is up in the air on the canner.  I take the lid off and three....not one or two but three jars have broken.  I get out what I can and let the rest finish processing.  I have never had that happen and I was now disgusted with the day.  Stopped in to see my cousin and found I made some $$ so that made the day some what better.  Grabbed #2 daughter from the bus stop and went to #2 son's football game.  Sat on the bleachers in the pouring rain until the start of the third quarter when I said enough.  We lost but son did a great job with a tackle and a fumble recovery!

9/28  Weather man said a few showers in the AM and then clearing.  It was looking nice so I loaded the line with towels and sheets....it is now pouring down rain.  Today looks like it is turning out like yesterday...I better not risk poisoning the family and just order dinner out!

Endings are new beginnings

"To grow plants from our own seed, to save seeds from our own plants, goes to a deeper level. It is fulfillment and continuity plants and people maintaining each other, nurturing each other, evolving together. It

completes the circle.” Carol Deppe

Slowly the garden is winding down and I have been saving seed for next years garden.  While saving seed your mind is already on next years garden.  For the most part I am very happy with this years.  Next year the garden is getting enlarged so I will have more room.  I will grow less hot peppers...less basil...and will grow corn. 

I am still canning.  Today it is dehydrating parsley

then making quince/apple jelly and bacon jelly. 

Yes it sounds strange but that is why I have got to try it.  I have a lot of tomatoes, peppers and squash still to go.  Tomorrow is pumpkin butter.  When all the canning is done I will post what I actually got out of some seeds and sweat. 

After canning all day I sit down and what do I knit?  I have been knitting and crocheting gourds, squash and pumpkins.  I guess my mind is still in the garden but in my defense they are so quick to do...next knit is indian corn.

Pretty soon this will end and socks and mittens will be on the needles.

 

Did You Want to Know?

In your thirst for knowledge, be sure not to drown in all the information. ~Anthony J. D'Angelo


#1 daughter sent me an email this morning with this link...http://www.auburn.edu/~vestmon/xmas_cnt.htm
So innocently I follow the link and this is what it says...

Countdown to Christmas

Can't Wait?
How long 'til Christmas?

100 Days
16 Hours
38 Minutes

...But who's counting?

Well that was a case of information overload.  I have been thinking of it but in the far off sense...far... far... far off sense.

As I am talking to her she says there was a Macy's commercial on TV.  Yup definitely information overload!  Think I will go bury my head in the sand...before it turns into snow.

Changing weather

"Lord, it is time. The summer was very big. Lay thy shadow on the sundials, and on the meadows let the winds go loose. Command the last fruits that they shall be full; give them another two more southerly days, press them on to fulfillment and drive the last sweetness into the heavenly wine." - Rainer Maria Rilke

Yesterday there was some wild weather.  Fortunately we only got the winds where around us they had inches of hail that shredded the leaves and runined what was growing in their gardens.  Apples, pears, acorns, hickory nuts and black walnuts were tossed about.  As my garden is far from over I am glad the worst missed us.

I did notice that with the changing weather my mind has gone from the garden being the priority to preparing for winter.  The man and I approach this from different directions.  He starts to split wood and I start going to wool festivals!   And you have to admit that looking at this

is so much better than looking at a stack of oak, birch and hickory!

This past weekend was the Endless Mountain Fiber Festival.  We went on Saturday as it was a beautiful day.  I didn't buy much just a 12 inch ring for doing the rug hooking, a skein of green alpaca sport weight yarn  from Times Remembered and 4 oz. of the lightest gray Finn from Stillmeadow.

Had my eye on a bag of alpaca/finn from Dunn Spun Yarn, but decided to walk around first and when I came back it was gone.  Which was probably for the best since I need to send my own Finn out to get carded. 

We got a little rain Sunday which we really needed.  It is cloudy and coolish (high of 56 degrees).  Perfect day to make use of a magazine I picked up from Taste of Home featuring all soups.  I love soups, stew, chowder whatever Love them all.  We picked the Cheeseburger soup and homemade bread.

It was deliciously filling after a busy weekend of fiber.... and wood splitting....room cleaning.  Yes that is what the kids did on Sunday, fall cleaning in their rooms!!! I know the shock was nearly more than my heart could handle.  The loads of "dirty" (aka laundry mom washed, folded and put on their beds, they kicked it off on to the floor and the dog laid on it)  laundry was almost more than my machine could handle!  This should have happened before all the school clothes were bought but football and canning held that up.  They think I need to follow suit but my fall cleaning usually gets done when all the canning equipment gets packed away for the year and that hasn't happened yet.

So like the changing weather which is 1/2 summer and 1/2 winter I am stuck in the middle with 1/2 gardening and 1/2 preparing.  It was only 45 this morning so I know which is going to end first.

2010 First day of school

T'WAS THE NIGHT BEFORE SCHOOL STARTS  By Ron Yorgason

T’was the night before school starts
And all through the place,
Not a smile was seen
On any kid’s face.
Our bags were all stuffed
With our notebooks brand new,
And rulers and pencils
With erasers to chew.
Mournfully we
All crawled into bed,
Knowing too well
That the ‘good life’ was dead.
Then mom came in whistling
And kissed us goodnight,
With a bright cheery voice
That didn’t seem right.
The night dragged on slowly
I just couldn’t sleep,
For fear that my math teacher
Would be a real creep.
Or maybe a bully
Would give a shove,
Or even more evil things
Than I could think of.
When from in the next room
There arose such a clummer,
My mom yelled,”I’m FREE!”
“I’m free ‘til next summer!”
This must be a plot
By conspiring moms,
Who just want a break
To experience ‘calm.’
Oh, must I go through it?
How can I go on?
I want to escape
Run off to Saigon!
Nine months is too long
To suffer through school
The classes so rough
And teachers who’re cruel.
“Come Donald! Come Conner!
Come Henry VanStation!
Come up to the board,
Do your multiplication!”
“And Julie, stop talking!
And Jimmy, wake up!
And, Mary,right now,
Don’t do your makeup!”
Teachers ever are hounding
They just never quit.
You do something wrong,
They go into a fit.
And so every year
About this same time,
I lie in bed sleepless
And just moan and whine.
Until morning comes,
And I hear my mom say,
“Good luck with your school!
And have a nice day!

The kids left for school.  Both of them are high schoolers now.  #2 daughter will come home and talk my ear off at least until her brother comes home at 6 PM.  He has football practice after school and takes the late bus.  He never has much to say so you have to question him to get anything out of him.  Of course it is now dinner time and his lunch was at 11:00 so he is starving. Needless to say you get head shakes as he shovels food in.  But it never fails...I will get to a difficult part in a pattern or a vital part in a movie/book and all of a sudden he remembers all this good stuff that happened to him that day.

Ahhhh, I miss them already and I only have a couple of more years of this before they are gone.  All that beig said, I am going to go have my second cup of coffee and enjoy the momentary quiet.

Labor Day Weekend

If a task is once begun,

Never leave it till it's done.
Be the labor great or small,
Do it well or not at all.
~ Anonymous

That sounds like something my mother use to say.  I would walk around telling her  "Well my momma done told me....".  Eventually she would tire of my repeated words of wisdom and tell me that my mother "should have shut her mouth"!  She was a hoot!

But seriously we are recovering from our Labor Day weekend.  As everyone knows the weekend starts on Friday and Friday just happened to be #1 daughters birthday.  Her and Sir T arrived late Friday evening to celebrate.  #1 son and A were here so bedtime came late.

Saturday the man had to go to work and #2 son had football practice.  When everyone got back home the guys gravitated toward yard work while daughters and I started canning.  We canned tomatoes (of course), soup, and rhubarb/orange butter before dinner.

Sunday was Sir T's birthday.  #1 daughter made him a wonderful breakfast in which we all got to indulge.  While the man and I went to help a friend they left to go shopping and have dinner with #1 son and A.  Sir T had requested, from a family friend,  a coconut pound cake to be used as strawberry shortcake for his birthday.  When they got back home she delivered it to the both of them for their birthday's.

Monday arrived (43 degrees!!) and we all went to see #2 son play in this years first game. 

Our varsity team beat our archenemy on Friday evening and our JV and freshman teams beat them on Monday.  I was able to get a little knitting done during the ride and half time. 

While the #1's went out shopping and visiting the rest of us came home to veg a little.....5 minutes....and then the man started putting a new motor in my cars rear window, #2 son started vacuuming my car and #2 daughter and I headed to the bean patch.  The beans ended up in the frig as I dealt with the accumulation of hot peppers.  With the men folk being big on hot stuff, I found a recipe for hot pepper relish and #1 daughter and I made that while everyone else went fishing. 

Today the man had to go to work.  Sir T planned the day off so he and #1 daughter missed the holiday traffic.  They will stop and have dinner with his mom on their way home.  They will not be able to come back until Thanksgiving so we need to send them off with a love from home package to tide them over.  Now I have to go find a box to pack it in.  Tomorrow school starts.....

September First

"The breezes taste
Of apple peel.
The air is full
Of smells to feel-
Ripe fruit, old footballs,
Burning brush,
New books, erasers,
Chalk, and such.
The bee, his hive,
Well-honeyed hum,
And Mother cuts
Chrysanthemums.
Like plates washed clean
With suds, the days
Are polished with
A morning haze."
- John Updike, September

There is something about September that just wants you to slow down.  Your not quite ready for sitting near the wood stove but you are getting ready for it. The leaves are starting to turn and when you drive down the road, the car makes little tornado's from the leaves that have fallen.

I walked out into the garden this morning.  I was very careful not to look in certain directions as I don't want to see how much work still lies ahead.  I take note of the broom corn standing tall in the morning fog. 

The morning glories smile.

The cold bee takes refuge on the sunflower. 

Amidst the weeds non edible plants I found more cushaw squash.

That makes five of them.  The LI cheese squash grew up over the mesh I had up for the green beans.  The green beans toppled but underneath the squash grew on.

# 2 son goes on his first "date" tonight.  They are going for pizza and a movie.  My baby boy!  The doctor has released him and last night he played in his first scrimmage match of the year. We won! 

The canning still continues.  #1 daughter calls it "storing the nuts for winter".  Her and Sir T will be coming up this weekend.  It is their birthdays (9/3 and 9/5).  Since we haven't seen them in a couple of weeks and because it is Labor Day weekend and the last hurrah before school starts on the 8th, it should be a great weekend.

Winter Will Ask...

The time will come when winter will ask you what you were doing all summer. ~Henry Clay

And I can tell winter I was canning, canning, canning and more canning.  I was keeping track of how much I harvested from the garden until I started taking the wheelbarrel in to harvest.  The tomatoes continue to "go forth and multiply" in spectacular amounts. 

My alarm goes off at 5 and I just want to pull the covers over my head and ignore it.  But I blindly reach out and turn it off.  I wake up #2 son and have a cup of coffee while packing lunches.  I leave the man's sitting on the table, yell at son to move it and head on out.  Drive 20 miles to drop him off, drive 20 miles home and do chores, start harvesting/canning, leave at 2:30-2:45 to pick up son, dirve 20 miles, turn around drive 20 back home, can some more, make dinner (or a phone call) can some more, clean up, take shower, drop in bed. 

#1 daughter calls and all I keep saying is "I can't hold the phone and fill jars so I will talk to you later".  I did get a day off of sorts.  #2 son got hurt on Tuesday.  The trainer iced him up and said to see how it felt the next morning...8:15 I got the doctor on the phone and had a 9 AM appointment....4 PM we finally pulled back in the driveway.  Xrays and CT scans behind us, he wears a neck brace and no practice for two weeks.  He goes back Monday for a recheck.  Dreams of staying in bed until at least 6 flashed through my mind but NO he still has to be at the school at 6 AM.  Oh well so much for that idea.

I really don't mind the morning rides.  I actually prefer them as I generally see more wildlife than cars.  Once, I stopped to let a duck and her ducklings cross the road, another day it was geese.  The turkeys, deer and porcupine are frequent sightings.   The afternoon drive is cars and lots (by my estimation) of people.

Yesterday I canned some dill pickles using a friends recipe and then I am took the day off.  #2 daughter and I went shopping with friends.  I picked up some vodka while I was out.  When I came home I made a batch of peach schnapps.  Like the Baldwin sister's say "for medicinal purposes".

Today I made another batch of dill pickles using a packaged product.  Then using the second jar of vodka I made some kahlua.  Now I get the rest of the day off as we go to the man's family reunion.  I will probably fall asleep and they will find me snoring away with a plate on my lap.  I will be embarrassed but at least they will have something to talk about at the next one.

A little catch up or ketchup

"A world without tomatoes is like a string quartet without violins."~ Laurie Colwin, 'Home Cooking'

Several years ago we had so many tomatoes that I pulled the plants because I couldn't handle any more. I piled the tomatoes all over the picnic table and then in boxes, called a friend to come get them.  As if to smite me for my disdain, that year was followed by years with below average tomato production...last year being the worst.

I must have done enough penitence for this year is a great tomato year despite the drought.  I will not make the same mistake and willy nilly get sick of them and pawn them off like zucchini ever again.  Thankfully my canning repertoire has grown extensively since then. 

I go into the garden and I am amazed at the amount of tomatoes still on the vines....some plants are still blooming.  I have picked over 150 pounds of tomatoes since August 5th.  Some have become salsa, BBQ sauce, roasted garlic pasta sauce, tomato soup and just plain old crushed tomatoes.  Today I will be trying for V8 and spaghetti sauce and if all goes well I would like to try ketchup before the tomatoes are done.

Yesterday while picking we found several of these...
                                    

the horned tomato worm.  I have only seen them in my garden once or twice before.  Then I only saw one....I picked four of them off this time!  Look at all the parasitic eggs of the Braconid Wasp.

And I am finally taking pictures so I remember what I knit.  Maybe I will even bring Ravelry up to date someday...

Two pair of Easy Holiday Mittens done in purple and white which are the school colors.  I had to have something to keep my hands warm while watching #2 son play football.  Of course #2 daughter gave the old guilt trip "I guess I will just sit and freeze" so I had to make her a pair.

Then there is the Dandy Neckerchief which still needs to be blocked. Picture does not do it any justice so I will have to take another after blocking and with better light.

Then there is the 3 Hour Cowl so easy I will probably make more and make them longer (top to bottom).

This is the last thing I finished, Little Shells a shawlette.  I did the bind off yesterday morning.  Still needs to be blocked.  On the second to last row I added beads and if I do it again I will probably add a bead at each sk2p.

Although I have no pictures, I also knit a feather and fan cowl and did a 1 foot tri-loom to which I added a crocheted edging.

And in between the canning and knitting I have painted the bathroom,  done this with #1 daughter (not the one picked)....

and gone to nephews football game

taken the kids to the county fair and hauled son to and from football practice.  Today we (yes we I have to get him up, pack his lunch, make sure he has everything and drive to and fro) two a day practices, 6 AM to 3 PM everyday.  Other than the fact I will miss them I can't wait for the kids to go back to school so I can rest! I am exhausted.